Advice for a last semester senior

[markelle]

Hello Happy New Year everyone!

I am going to be graduating this upcoming spring, and I am thinking about applying in this year's application cycle.
Right now I am in my winter break and am studying for the MCAT and drafting parts of my personal statement. I plan to take my MCAT in April and then have my personal statement checked over by various faculty this spring.
But I am a little worried about time management and squeezing a lot of stuff in a little bit of time. I graduate around May 20th, and I know early application is ~June 2017.

This semester I am taking 18 credits, and I am very involved in school, so I have clubs and events to plan and organize. I don't think I would be able to do my best on the MCAT because of my other responsibilities and I work 2 part-time jobs. But I have always had this personal goal about applying right after graduation. It is really important to me that I get this done in time, so I can start on my journey to becoming a physician.

I know MCAT needs about 10 weeks-16weeks of studying but can it be done in 6 weeks?
Is an applicant with 3.8 cGPA and 3.7sGPA w/ 505 is competitive ? What I wish more than starting med school 2018, is to NOT waste time and money when I am not competitive to be accepted to a MD school. My EC's and clinical experience is good. Research experience okay, not volunteering yet. first generation college student and URM if that even matters anymore... lol

Do you think I should wait, take more time and aim for a 515+ to apply to some top schools? Or should I just hurry and apply and start on my journey?

Thank you

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[Hospitalized]

I was in nearly your exact position. I finished up undergrad 7 months ago and took the MCAT just after graduation and applied this year.

I wish I had waited and taken an extra year and gave myself more time to study for the MCAT and get things in order. My MCAT score would have been better, for sure. By the time I figured out my weaknesses, it was time to take the test. Bad mistake.

Now, I have almost the exact stats you listed. The answer is, to be truly "competitive", you need a balanced 507+ in my opinion. "Competitive" in my books means multiple interview invites.

I have 1 OOS MD interview this cycle (haven't attended yet). It MIGHT work out for me, but the chances that it doesn't are, statistically speaking, 40%. I also consider myself to have a very unique EC trajectory for a traditional(?) applicant which I suspect granted my interview. However, on the chances I don't get in this cycle, I'm now going to have to take another 2 years because I absolutely cannot afford to get another poor MCAT score - so I really need to give myself time.

The fact is, medical schools will still be there next year. TAKE. YOUR. TIME. I absolutely know how easy it is to get caught up in wanting to rush through it all, because that's exactly what I've done. But the best thing for me would've been to wait another year. I would have had better LORs, a better MCAT, better life experience and volunteering, etc. I would have had probably a 90%+ chance at admission. My application, as it stands now, is very borderline. Chances are good I'm going to have to reconstruct things because I didn't do it completely right the first time.

 

[ciucia53]

Hmm. I agree with what the poster above says. You have a great science and overall GPA so I don't doubt your mastery of these concepts. Perhaps it is possible you could do amazingly after 6 weeks of studying. However, knowing that you are a senior and applying this cycle, you will already have 1 gap year and you might feel wary about two.. what if you signed up for the exam and then take a few FLs the few weeks before and if you are not hitting the 507+ range, I would defer the exam??

 

[Ampharos]

Prioritize getting in your apps ASAP. 508+ balanced is what I would recommend. GPA is high and you should have some luck. 515 would make you golden. @Goro would probably have some excellent advice

 

[Goro]

Only you can answer this. I strongly recommend prioritizing your MCAT studying, as this exam will make or break your app.

A 505 MCAT score is not that great fro MD schools...best chances will be with your state schools; but it's fine for any DO school.

No volunteering? Not good, nor is it good to try to squeeze it all in in a single semester. It looks like box checking, or that you were actively hoarding your time for academics and little else.

What community do you represent? And please don't say "the Bronx".


You should apply once witht he best possible app, even if it means skipping an app cycle. Med schools aren't going anywhere.

I know MCAT needs about 10 weeks-16weeks of studying but can it be done in 6 weeks?
Is an applicant with 3.8 cGPA and 3.7sGPA w/ 505 is competitive ? What I wish more than starting med school 2018, is to NOT waste time and money when I am not competitive to be accepted to a MD school. My EC's and clinical experience is good. Research experience okay, not volunteering yet. first generation college student and URM if that even matters anymore... lol

Do you think I should wait, take more time and aim for a 515+ to apply to some top schools? Or should I just hurry and apply and start on my journey?

Thank you